全國第一座文化中心

●水源地與文英館
日治初期，臺中市日常用水主要仰賴綠川、柳川與私人鑿井。但隨著人口快速增加，如何取得乾淨用水，成為臺中都市計劃的迫切議題。1913年（大正2年）日人於城市北郊鑽井，成功抽取優質地下水，隔年完成市區自來水道佈設工程，開始配送自來水（時稱水道水）解決市區供水問題。又於1922年（大正11年）增設抽水機，隔年增鑿第二口水源井。此後陸續增加設備，整體自來水工程，至1927年（昭和2年）方全部竣工。

另一方面，針對鑽井抽水之處，日人除設置儲水塔等一系列自來水設備外，另將整個區域改稱「水源地」，特意植樹保護、禁止開發，以確保地下水質不會遭到污染。1927年（昭和2年），水源地進一步規劃為公園與運動場，包含游泳池、田徑場與棒球場，並遷入清領儒考棚殘留建物，改稱湧泉閣，除充作公園景觀設施外，亦有保存臺中歷史文物之意。整體工程於1928年（昭和3年）竣工，此後水源地公園與相鄰的臺中公園，並稱為臺中著名景觀地標與休憩場所。

二戰後，隨著國府遷臺，大量外省移民入住水源地公園形成眷村，而配合自來水設備，自來水公司亦增築營業辦公處所，1961年臺灣體育專科學校（今國立臺灣體育運動大學）遷入後，日治時期公園格局更是不復得見。但是配合體專、臺中一中與省立圖書館的存在，水源地周邊逐漸轉型為文教區，再加上1976年臺中市立文化中心（今文英館）的設置，更是確立水源地一帶為臺中教育、體育與人文發展的重要區域。

文英館闢建於1975年12月，隔年10月25日光復節啟用，為「市立文化中心」館舍，以推動各項文化活動與蒐集陳列民俗文物為業務，是全臺第一個創設的縣市文化活動機構。因由永豐餘集團共同創辦人何永（1898-1988）先生，以「財團法人臺中私立文英基金會」的名義捐資興建，故命名「文英館」以資紀念。

文英館整體由一座弧形三層樓房及六角形集會廳構成，正面觀之為一道宏偉氣派的弧形，並由簡潔平實的幾何造型，營造出整齊有序的空間機能，是極具有現代主義特色的建築，已於2002年登錄為歷史建築。

1983年，文化中心由文英館遷往英才路上的新館舍，文英館改為分館，持續辦理藝文推廣活動。文英館於2002年登錄為歷史建築。自2012年起，由國立臺灣體育運動大學接管，無償提供文英館「主題」、「文英」兩個畫廊，予民眾申請藝文展覽使用，持續推展本市藝文能量。

同年，「雙十流域文化生活圈」計畫推動，以文英館為核心館舍，串連柳原教會、孔廟、臺中放送局、臺中市市長公館、水源地文化館、臺中公園、瑞成書局、萬代福影城等據點，「以城市就是博物館」為概念，推動藝文活動展演與都市文化觀光。目前，文英館因館舍整修之故，暫時僅開放一樓展廳，供民眾租借辦理及參觀藝文展覽活動。

●催生全臺文化中心的陳千武
提到文英館，不得不讓人想起催生全臺文化中心的陳千武先生。陳千武（1922-2012），本名陳武雄，號桓夫，筆名千武，南投縣名間鄉人。1933年（昭和8年）就讀臺中一中，開始廣泛閱讀文學作品。1939年（昭和14年）開始以「陳千武」為筆名發表日文詩作於《臺灣新民報》。畢業後於1943年（昭和18年）以「臺灣特別志願兵」身份遠赴南洋戰場，至1946年方由新加坡戰俘集中營返臺。

二戰後歷經十年煎熬，重新學習中文書寫，於1958年以「桓夫」為名，開始發表詩作，其後以過人的熱情與創作能量，在現代詩、小說、文學評論、兒童文學與翻譯等多元領域留下傲人成果。同時也積極參與全臺各項文學活動與文藝團體，其中尤以1964年與中部作家詹冰、白萩、林亨泰、趙天儀等人創設「笠詩社」，發行《笠》詩刊，為二戰後本土詩社的先聲，最具歷史影響力。

1973年，陳千武堂兄陳端堂就任臺中市長，聘其為市政府總務處庶務股長。就任後，陳千武有志於文化推廣，鼓吹成立縣市文化中心，專責策劃藝文活動推廣與展覽。並向永豐餘集團創辦的文英基金會籌募資金，以營造後轉移市府營運的方式，於1976年成功催生臺中市立文化中心。

出任中心首任主任的陳千武，以其在臺灣文壇豐沛之人脈，策劃了一系列極為成功的藝文推廣活動，臺灣文化界為之轟動。總統蔣經國先生，極其肯定文化中心對於社會教育之功效，遂將此納為國家十二項建設之一，隨後全國各縣市均以臺中為範本，陸續設置文化中心以推廣社會文教。1983年，文化中心遷往英才路，陳千武就任分館文英館的首任館長，開始著手保存蒐藏原住民民俗文物一千八百多件，為公家機構中最早開始收藏民俗文物者。1987年，陳千武屆齡退休，由館長轉任顧問後，仍持續在文化界奮力耕耘。

除公職服務外，陳千武曾任臺灣筆會會長、臺灣省兒童文學協會理事長等職，著有詩集《不眠的眼》、《媽祖的纏足》等十餘種，小說《獵女犯》（後改版《活著回來—日治時期臺灣特別志願兵的回憶》），另有大量文學評論、兒童文學及翻譯作品。且獲笠詩獎翻譯獎、吳濁流文學獎、洪醒夫小說獎、國家文藝翻譯成就獎、日本翻譯家協會翻譯特別功勞賞、臺中市大墩文學貢獻獎、南投縣文學貢獻獎、國家文藝獎文學類、臺灣文學家牛津獎等眾多殊榮。此外，臺中市政府也曾頒贈「第一號市民獎章」，並為其出版《陳千武詩全集十二冊》，辦理「永遠的文學者—陳千武特展」等活動，肯定其對臺中教育及文化發展之重大貢獻。

2012年，陳千武逝世，享壽九十一歲，總統頒發褒揚令，而眾文友在文英館舉辦盛大的追思紀念會，緬懷其過人成就與風範。綜觀陳千武一生，其對於臺灣文化保存推廣的努力，以及臺灣文學創作研究之深化，著實具有不可磨滅的功績與歷史定位。 (2,000字完整版)



The First Cultural Center in Taiwan

●The Water Source Protection Area and the Wen Ying Hall

Taichung’s JiuCheng (“Old City”) district developed as a planned, new city built by the Japanese colonial administration in the area where the Qing administration had intended to build a new provincial capital for Taiwan. During the early part of the era of Japanese colonial rule, Taichung’s population was mainly concentrated in the old town of DaDun, which had been the main center of population during the era of Qing rule, and in the Xiao BeiMen district, which developed during the Japanese era. For drinking water, Taichung’s citizens depended on the Lu River, the Yang River, and privately-dug wells. However, as the city continued to develop and the population grew rapidly, the question of how to obtain an adequate supply of clean water became a major urban planning challenge for the city.

In 1910, plans were drawn up for the building of a dedicated water channel that would use water from the upper reaches of the DaJia River by connecting to the HuLuDun Irrigation Channel so as to bring the water into Taichung City. However, doubts were raised about this project, and it proved impossible to agree on a finalized version of the plan. The main reason for the criticism of the plan was that it would involve making use of the HuLuDun Irrigation Channel. This was partly because of concerns that the steady increase in urban water usage might result in there being insufficient water left over for irrigation purposes, and partly because the HuLuDun Irrigation Channel was an open-air channel officials were worried that the water, which was intended to be used as drinking water, might become contaminated during its long journey through the open-air channel. Environmental sanitation was a very important aspect of urban planning, and so there was continued argument over the question of whether the water could be kept clean enough.

Faced with this controversy, Taichung Mayor Eda Tokuji formulated an alternative proposal. Given that the water quality of well water in Taichung was very good, and that the city had an abundance of natural springs, he decided to try drilling wells in the city’s northern suburbs. Drilling down to a depth of 13 meters accessed an abundant supply of clean underground water. Following these successful experiments with well-drilling, in 1913 the Japanese revised the urban development plan for Taichung, deciding to use well-drilling to obtain water for the city. In February 1914, work began on the construction of a new water supply network the work was completed, and the supply of mains drinking water to Taichung residents began in May that same year, marking the successful resolution of the city’s water supply problem. Subsequently, as Taichung’s population continued to grow, extra pumps were installed in 1922, and in November 1923 a second major well was drilled. Additional equipment continued to be added, but by 1927 Taichung’s water supply engineering project had been completed.

At the location where the wells were dug for water extraction, the Japanese administration installed water towers and other water supply equipment, and also designated this area as a “water source protection area.” Trees were planted to help protect the water quality, and development of this area was prohibited to ensure that the underground water source would not become contaminated. In 1925, Taichung City was expected to hold special events to celebrate the Japanese Emperor’s 25th wedding anniversary. After intensive discussion, it was decided that a carnival and baseball competition would be held in the water source protection area, and that following the celebrations, the area covered by the water source protection area would be expanded and developed as a park, with the construction of various sporting facilities, so that it could serve as a leisure facility for Taichung’s citizens.

Work began on the construction of the water source protection area’s park and sports ground in 1927. Before construction began, the Taichung City authorities had asked the Central Research Institute of the Government-General of Taiwan to dispatch personnel to conduct a survey, to verify that the construction of the park and sports ground would not have a negative impact on water quality this could be considered the first “environmental impact assessment” in Taiwan’s history. The sports ground facilities included a swimming pool, an athletics track and a baseball ground. The municipal authorities also moved the ruins of the old Qing Dynasty government examination hall to the park, where it was renovated and renamed the “Pavilion of Springs.” Besides being intended to help beautify the park, this measure also evidenced an interest on the part of the authorities in preserving aspects of Taichung’s history. Construction was completed in April 1928 the new “Water Source Protection Area Park” and the nearby “Taichung Park” became important Taichung landmarks and leisure facilities.

In 1945, following the end of the Second World War, sovereignty over Taiwan was transferred from Japan to China, and Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist (KMT) regime subsequently withdrew to Taiwan after defeat in the Chinese Civil War. Large numbers of Chinese civilians and military personnel came to Taiwan with the Nationalists, and the “Water Source Protection Area Park” was used as the site for a “military dependents’ village.” In addition, to meet the needs of municipal water supply, the water supply company built an office on the site. In 1961, the Taiwan Provincial College of Physical Education (now National Taiwan University of Sport) was established on the site, after which the area was completely transformed from how it had looked during the era of Japanese rule. With the College of Physical Education, Taichung First Senior High School and the Taiwan Provincial Library all located in the same district, the area around what had formerly been the “Water Source Protection Area Park” gradually developed into a major center of education and culture within Taichung, a status which was confirmed by the opening of Taichung City Cultural Center (now the Wen Ying Hall) in 1976.

Construction of the Taichung City Cultural Center began in December 1975, and the new Center opened on October 25 (Retrocession Day), 1976. This was the first cultural center to be established by a county or city government in Taiwan, and was intended to promote cultural activities and to display folk artifacts. The funding for the construction of the Cultural Center building was provided by businessman Mr. Ho Yung, through the “Taichung Wen Ying Foundation,” and the main building was called the “Wen Ying Hall” in commemoration of this. The Cultural Center comprised a crescent-shaped three-storey building and a hexagonal conference hall. Viewed from the front, the crescent-shaped main building is very imposing and elegant, with its neat, simple geometrical design which creates a sense of spatial order. Overall, this is a building with a very modern feel to it.

In 1983, Taichung City Cultural Center was relocated to its current site on YingCai Road, and the Wen Ying Hall became a branch facility in its new role, it continued to hold activities aimed at promoting culture and the arts. In 2005, the Hui Lang Café company took over the management of part of the building, which was transformed into a multifunctional performing arts space called the “Wen Ying Hall Hui Lang Café Theater.” In 2010, following the merger of Taichung City and Taichung County to form a new, enlarged Taichung City, the Wen Ying Hall was re-designated as an ancillary exhibition space for Taichung City Dadun Cultural Center. In 2012, ownership of the building was transferred to National Taiwan University of Sport Taichung City Dadun Cultural Center continued to rent space in the building in order to maintain the operation of the thematic gallery and Wen Ying Gallery on the first floor and the traditional Taiwanese woodblock printing exhibition facility on the second floor, while renting the third floor for use as a dedicated storage facility for folk arts artifacts. Currently, because of the need to undertake repairs in other parts of the building, only the first-floor galleries are still open to the public they are available to rent for the holding of cultural and artistic activities.

●Chen Chien-Wu’s Role in Bringing about the Establishment of the Taichung City Cultural Center

Mention of the Wen Ying Hall is sure to bring to mind Mr. Chen Chien-Wu, who was a leading advocate of the establishment of the Taichung City Cultural Center. Chen Chien-Wu (1922 – 2012) was born Chen Wu-Hsiung he had the sobriquet Huan Fu, and took Ch’ien-Wu as his pen name. Born in MingJian Township, Nantou County, he enrolled in Taichung First Senior High School in 1933, where he read widely and developed an interest in literature. Starting from 1939, he had poems in Japanese published in the Taiwan Shin Minpao newspaper under the pen name Chen Chien-Wu. After graduation from high school, in 1943 he was conscripted into the Japanese army as a “Special Volunteer,” and was posted to Southeast Asia. After spending time in a prisoner-of-war camp in Singapore, he was eventually able to return to Taiwan in 1946.

After the war, Chen endured 10 years of struggle to attain full literacy in Chinese (having been educated under the Japanese colonial system). In 1958, he began to have Chinese-language poems published, under the name Huan Fu. Subsequently, he demonstrated immense passion and creative drive, generating an impressive body of work that included modern poetry, novels, literary criticism, children’s literature and translations. At the same time, Ch’en was also active in a wide range of literary activities and cultural and artistic organizations. In 1964, Ch’en Ch’ien-Wu and a group of other Central Taiwan writers that included Chan Ping, Lin Heng-Tai and Chao Tien-Yi founded the “Bamboo Rain Hat Poetry Society,” and launched the “Bamboo Rain Hat” poetry magazine. This was the first nativist poetry group to be founded since the Second World War, and it was highly influential.

In 1973, when Chen Chien-Wu’s brother Chen Tuan-T’ang became Mayor of Taichung City, Ch’en was appointed director of the General Affairs Department in the Administration Division of Taipei City Government. After taking up this position, he dedicated himself to the promotion of culture and the arts, advocating the establishment of county- and city-level cultural centers that would be responsible for planning artistic and cultural activities and organizing exhibitions. As a result of Chen’s efforts, the “Taichung Wen Ying Foundation,” established by Yuen Foong Yu Paper Manufacturing Co., Ltd., agreed to fund the building of a cultural center for Taichung City, which was then transferred to Taichung City Government the new Taichung City Cultural Center opened in 1976.

Chen Chien-Wu, who was appointed the first Director of the new Taichung City Cultural Center, was able to make effective use of his network of contacts in Taiwanese literary and artistic circles to organize a series of very successful arts and cultural promotion activities, which attracted a great deal of attention. President Chiang Ching-Kuo was impressed by the results achieved by the new Cultural Center in terms of social education, and subsequently made the construction of additional Cultural Centers one of the “Twelve National Construction Projects.” Eventually, every county and city in Taiwan established a cultural center along the same lines as Taichung City’s, to promote social education and cultural development.

In 1983, the main Taichung City Cultural Center was moved to a new location on YingCai Road, while Chen Chien-Wu continued to serve as director of what was now the Wen Ying Hall branch center. He began to focus on collecting artifacts related to the folk traditions of Taiwan’s indigenous (Aboriginal) peoples, building up a collection of more than 1,800 items this was the first serious effort by any public institution in Taiwan to collect folk artifacts. After reaching retirement age in 1987, Chen continued to serve as an advisor for the Wen Ying Hall, and continued to play an important role in the promotion of culture and the arts. Over the course of his career, Chen Chien-Wu made a very important contribution to the preservation of Taiwanese culture and literature, and to related educational and awareness-raising activities.